Rudolstadt

History

Early history

There is archeological evidence of a hill fort on the Weinberg in Oberpreilipp from the time of the late Urnfield culture and the early Iron Age. A Celtic settlement followed the Germanic one and the affiliation with the Duchy of Thuringia. From the 6th century onwards, archeological records suggest Slavic settlement in the area.

The first documented mention of the place-name was in 776 as Rudolfestat (Rudolf's settlement) as a gift from Charlemagne to Hersfeld Abbey

After 1990

In 1994 the Neonazi and police-informant Tino Brandt (NPD) founded the Neonazi-Gang „Thüringer Heimatschutz“ (THS, Thuringian homeland protection) in Rudolstadt. The structure of 170 right-wing extremists was an SA-style street gang. The THS gave rise to the Nazi terrorist group National Socialist Underground (NSU), which murdered a total of ten people over a period of 10 years.

Historical population

Number of Inhabitants (from 1960 as of 31 December, unless otherwise indicated):

: Data since 1994: Thuringian Statistical Office 1 29 October

2 31 August

Culture

Rudolstadt is twinned with Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland.

The Rudolstadt Festival (formerly TFF, Tanz&FolkFest) takes place annually on the first full July weekend.

Economy

The headquarters of the EPC Group, a global engineering and construction company, are in Rudolstadt.

File:Richtersche Villa.jpg|The so-called "Richtersche Villa" (Richters Mansion). File:Rathaus Rudolstadt.jpg|Rudolstadt Town Hall File:Bobo 2006.jpg|Bobo 2006 File:CFK Schwarza VEB Logo.svg|Chemical Industry of East Germany

• Arthur Schopenhauer wrote his dissertation in Rudolstadt.
• Princess Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, grandmother of King Leopold I of Belgium, great-grandmother to Albert, Prince Consort of the United Kingdom
• Tino Brandt (NPD), German Neonazi founded Thüringer Heimatschutz in 1994 in Rudolstadt
• Christian Nikolaus Eberlein (1720–1788), historical painter
• Traugott Maximilian Eberwein, German composer, worked here as the composer in residence for the Rudolstadt theatre
• Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, German composer and choirmaster in Rudolstadt
• Hans Fallada, German writer. He went to school in Rudolstadt, it was here that he killed his friend Hans Dietrich von Necker in a duel
• Ahasverus Fritsch, German poet and composer
• Simone Lange, German politician (SPD)
• Franz Liszt, Hungarian composer worked here as the composer in residence for the Rudolstadt theatre
• Niccolò Paganini, Italian composer, worked here as the composer in residence for the Rudolstadt theatre
• Max Wandrer, Olympic gymnast, was born in Rudolstadt
• Charlotte von Lengefeld (1766–1826), wife of Schiller
• Richard Wagner, German composer, worked here as the composer in residence for the Rudolstadt theatre

References

References

1. [https://wahlen.thueringen.de/datenbank/wahl1/wahl.asp?wahlart=BM&wJahr=0000&zeigeErg=LAND&auswertung=2 Gewählte Bürgermeister - aktuelle Landesübersicht], Freistaat Thüringen. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
2. Michael Köhler: ''Thüringer Burgen und befestigte vor- und frühgeschichtliche Wohnplätze''. Jenzig-Verlag Köhler, Jena 2001, {{ISBN. 3-910141-43-9. p. 270.
3. (2002). "Die Vor- und Frühgeschichte Rudolstadts mit den Annalen von 775–786 bis 1503 und einem Exkurs aus der Geschichte Saalfelds". Thüringer-Chronik-Verlag H. E. Müllerott.
4. "NSU-Prozess: Der Gandhi von Rudolstadt".
5. Enzian, Heike. (2021-10-04). "NSU-Aufarbeitung: Den Dialog hinaus in die Stadt tragen".
6. (29 March 2019). "Donegal Councillor Ian McGarvey immortalised in wine". [[Donegal News]].
7. [http://www.tff-rudolstadt.de/english/index.htm Official website of TFF.Rudolstadt] {{webarchive. link. (2006-02-04)